BJP loses grip over tribal areas but tightens hold on SC seats

RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh assembly poll results have come as a mixed bag of surprises for both ruling BJP and Congress, with the former losing ground in it's stronghold of tribal areas and the latter losing its grip over it's traditional scheduled caste vote bank.
Gains made by Congress in tribal areas were literally set off by losses it suffered in schedule caste constituencies.While Congress managed to wrest eight seats from BJP in tribal areas, it lost four to BJP in scheduled caste constituencies, thus failing to consolidate on gains.
Significantly, Congress suffered losses in scheduled caste constituencies despite its promise of reversing BJP government's decision to lower SC reservation in jobs from 16% to 12%.
Tribal Belt - The 29 tribal-dominated constituencies, spread across districts of Bastar, Sarguja, Durg, Dhamtari, Bilaspur and Jashpur, were considered a pocket borough of BJP, as it had won majority of seats both in 2003 and 2008. In fact BJP's performance in tribal areas majorly contributed to its victory in 2008 elections. BJP had managed to win 19 of 29 tribal seats in 2008, with a near perfect score of winning 11 of 12 seats falling in Bastar division. BJP had lost only one seat, Konta, to Congress in Bastar division in the last polls.
However, Congress ended BJP's victory run in tribal areas by winning 18 of 29 seats this time. Major losses for BJP came from Bastar region, where it managed to retain only 4 of 11 seats, it won in the last elections.
While Congress retained Konta seat, it added Keshkal, Chitrakot, Bastar, Dantewada, Kondagaon, Bhanupratappur and Kanker to its tally, limiting BJP only to Bijapur, Antagarh, Jagdalpur and Narayanpur. Five sitting BJP MLAs, including minister Lata Usendi, lost their seats this time.
While main reason for Congress surge in these areas was the undercurrent of a sympathy wave, post the blood bath of its leader by Maoists on May 25, anti-incumbency against sitting MLAs also contributed to the party's defeat.
Reasons for reversal
Former state election commissioner Sushil Trivedi said anti incumbency was evident as five sitting MLAs lost. He blamed the MLAs and minister of 'disconnecting' themselves from people after coming to power. "Tribal people are very simple but they don't tolerate arrogance", he said.
While Trivedi claimed that sympathy wave was not a major contributor towards Congress victory in the region, Ramesh Nayyar, former editor of a regional daily, said it did impact in South Bastar. He said CM's candid admission that government had failed to protect the slain Congress leaders had led people to doubt government's ability to protect the common man.
SC constituencies: Gains made by BJP in Congress's erstwhile vote bank, the SCs, contributed majorly in offsetting its losses in the tribal belt. Of 10 SC constituencies, BJP managed to win nine this time, wresting four seats, Sarangarh, Saraipali, Arang and Bilaigarh from Congress. Besides it also won Pamgarh, Ahiwara, Navagarh, Dongargarh and Mungeli.
In 2008, BJP had won only 5 of these 10 seats. BSP, which had won Pamgarh seat in 2008, was wiped out, and Congress decimated to only one, Masturi. The shift of SC vote bank to BJP, has elated the party leaders. Trivedi said anti-incumbency worked the Congress's way in these constituencies, as all it's sitting MLAs lost. He said people were also not fooled by the Congress promises to raise job quota to 16%, as it was constitutionally not possible.
Nayyar said BJP had also gained as the Satnami vote was divided, since they did not vote en bloc for Congress. While the Satnami vote did not go to BJP, it was divided among independents and others, as they voted against Congress for its failure to champion their cause and protect their culture and rights.